Sargassum beachings continue

When it comes to tourism, July and August are traditionally much quieter than the preceding months. This annual trend is likely to continue over the coming weeks. The main reason for this is the invasion of sargassum, which has been going on for over a month now. For, unlike tourists during the summer vacations, the seaweed is arriving en masse. And the influx doesn't seem to be letting up.
In fact, according to Météo France's latest forecast for Sargasso beachings, these are expected to be "strong" over the next few days. Arrivals will be regular, although often small in size, in an east to east-southeast drift," says the bulletin. There's no real lull for the moment, as we're in the middle of the grounding season. "Worse still, over the next two weeks, Météo France predicts an increase in arrivals. "The number of detections, their density and the currents are increasing the risks", it states in the latest bulletin published on the organization's website. These forecasts will reassure neither tourism professionals nor the island's inhabitants. Especially those living in the worst-hit areas.

More than a million euros for emergency collection
In l'Anse des Lézards and l'Anse des Cayes, for example, stranded brown seaweed is piling up day after day. "And as there is no access to the beach, collection is very slow," confides a local resident. "It's almost non-existent," complains his neighbor. "From my house, in fact, even when I come down the road, it smells strong," remarks a resident of Anse des Lézards. A smell that is also perceptible in many parts of the island. Even on higher ground.
The bay of Marigot remains invaded, while the lagoon of Grand-Cul-de-Sac benefits from relative natural protection and the daily clean-up work of hotel staff and the companies they employ. The same applies to Saint-Jean. Fortunately, for the time being, the Collectivité territoriale has no plans to repeat a major operation like the one organized at the end of June. Five days of intense collection for which several companies were called in. An operation that cost more than a million euros, confided the President of the Collectivité. This investment is in addition to the 1.6 million spent each year on collecting sargassum that washes ashore. Over 9,000 cubic meters of seaweed were collected, loaded onto barges and dumped into the sea around 11 nautical miles west-southwest of Saint-Barth, in territorial waters 3.5 nautical miles from the drop-off. The sargassum then sank to the bottom.
On Wednesday July 9, Xavier Lédée visited Anse des Cayes. In an online publication, he wrote: "In this area, I would like to see a rapid study of the possibility of setting up a detour boom off the bay. "It now remains to be seen what type of boom this might be, and how soon it could be installed. Equipment has been ordered, but should only be ready for use next season. Unless the Collectivité can come up with an emergency makeshift solution in the next few days. One thing is certain: more Sargasso is on the way.